Combined Risk Index Report

Combined Risk Index Explanation

The Combined Risk Index is calculated by normalizing the values of the following columns:

• Population to Night Light Ratio: Lower value indicates higher risk
• Nearest Port: Higher value indicates higher risk
• Rainfall in driest quarter: Lower value indicates higher risk
• Elevation: Lower value indicates higher risk
• Flood Risk: Higher value indicates higher risk

Each column is normalized to a range between 0 and 1, where 0 represents the lowest risk and 1 represents the highest risk. The Combined Risk Index is the average of these normalized values. Note that for the normalization:

• FABDEM Elevation values above 10m are set to 10m to account for high altitude outliers.
• Port Distance values above 500km are set to 500km to standardize remote locations.

In the Pacific context, these variables are crucial due to their direct impact on communities' vulnerability to natural disasters, accessibility, and overall resilience:

• Population to Night Light Ratio: Indicates development and infrastructure. Lower values suggest less development and higher vulnerability.
• Nearest Port Distance: Accessibility to ports is vital for trade, emergency response, and supply chains. Greater distances pose higher risks.
• Rainfall in driest quarter: Reflects precipitation of driest quarter, essential for understanding drought risks.
• Elevation: Elevation is critical in assessing flood and storm surge risks. Lower elevations are more vulnerable.
• Flood Risk: Directly measures the susceptibility to flooding events, a significant hazard in the Pacific.